The reason most of the "dictators" were tolerated by the US is that they are not fanatically anti-US and could get along, grudgingly, with Israel. With the "arab spring" the people of these countries see a different way and are trying it out. Whether it works remains to be seen in 50 years or so. I'm sure Israel will bomb the crap out of Syria if they get any hint that stuff is coming their way - it 's kind of funny how Syria didn't make a peep when Israel bombed their new reactor. But they aren't going to take down Assad, or even promote that, because that is their only hope of stability. No Assad means a decade of civil war and opportunities for Iran to flood the region with weapons that can be directed towards Israel.

The Russian offer is the best thing going. Cool things off, make a show of taking away chemicals (though I doubt they would give them all up). But the end game is that Assad has to stay in power. There is no way the US comes out ahead if Assad goes. Then it is total chaos and Iraq looks like practice for the real thing.